For those enjoying the series’ longer arcs the season delivers. For those of us preferring to see Olivia and company in their roles as fixers we’re mostly out of luck as broader storylines continue to derail Olivia & Associates from making an honest living. The season certainly has its share of memorable moments, such as the return of a familiar face, but I wouldn’t rank it as my favorite.

Bearing the title of a familiar phrase on the show, Scandal‘s season finale brings the war between Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Rowan (Joe Morton) to an end as Olivia’s father uses blackmail to force the recently-elected Senator Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) to forcefully put an end to David Rosen‘s (Joshua Malina) attempt to bring B613 to light. With every member of the Grand Jury killed, thanks to the unsuspecting First Lady, and the fact that Rowan has cleared house with the last few members of the secret government organization that could identify him, Rowan claims victory. He also trumps Olivia’s last hail mary to turn over all proof of B613 to the CIA who decides to sweep it all carefully under the rug leaving Olivia and Jake (Scott Foley) with no further avenues to explore to take down Command.

The war between Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Rowan (Joe Morton) begins with the discovery of Jake‘s (Scott Foley) in the offices of Olivia Pope & Associates. Walking back one of the biggest moments of the series, and undercutting last week’s cliffhanger, Jake still lives as half of the episode is spent with Olivia trying to keep him alive. To do so Olivia will have to do a favor for a former KGB assassin, compromise her ethics, and even go so far as to trade Jake’s life for that of her father. She won’t completely succeed.

Rowan‘s (Joe Morton) return sets up the season’s final three episodes as Olivia‘s (Kerry Washington) father gives the D.C. fixer 48 hours to stop her friends from dragging the secrets of B613 to light… or else. Choosing justice over loyalty, to her estranged father or to the man she loves (who will be implicated should the secret organization be revealed), Olivia chooses truth which will cost one supporting cast member their life and reveal the season’s worst kept secret about which new recurring character is actually one of Rowan’s men.

“You saved me. I never thought I’d have the chance to return the favor.”

The Fourth Season’s opening arc centering on the abduction of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) to pressure President Grant (Tony Goldwyn) to sending troops into harms way and the sale of Olivia to the highest bidder ends with “No More Blood.” Although I’m sure their will be plenty of fallout from her traumatic experience (as evidenced in the short interview Olivia makes towards the end of the episode after her rescue) the episode ends with our heroine back in Washington, D.C. and the unexpected return (albeit brief) of one of her former gladiators (Henry Ian Cusick).